The Nevada State Assembly is the lower house of the Nevada State Legislature. A total of 42 members serve in the Assembly and are elected to two year terms and meet at the State Capitol in Carson City. Each member represents an average of 64,299 residents, as of the 2010 Census.[1] After the 2000 Census, each member represented approximately 47,339 residents.[2] The Assembly meets in odd numbered years and the sessions are mandated to last only 120 days unless the Governor calls for a Special Session[3].

As of March 2015, Nevada is one of 19 states that is under divided government and is therefore not one of the state government trifectas.

Sessions

When the Nevada Constitution was adopted, its fourth article established when the Nevada State Legislature, of which the Assembly is a part, was to be in session. However, Section 29 of Article 4, the section that dealt with legislative sessions, was repealed by vote of the people in the 1958 general election. The session dates for the Nevada Legislature are no longer limited by the Nevada Constitution.

Vacancies

If there is a vacancy in the Assembly, then the Board of County Commissioners in the county representing the seat must decide on a replacement. The Board of County Commissioners must select a person from the same political party that last held the seat when making its decision. If the vacancy happens before the next legislative session and an election for county officers is scheduled, no replacement is named[12].

Redistricting

The Legislature handles the redistricting process through a Legislative Operations and Elections Committee in each chamber. The Governor wields veto power, and the Legislature cannot overturn.

2010 census

Nevada received its local Census data on February 24, 2011. At a 35.1 percent rate of growth, Nevada was the fastest growing state in the Union from 2000 to 2010. The five most populous cities showed tremendous growth: Las Vegas grew by 22.0 percent, Henderson grew by 47.0 percent, Reno grew by 24.8 percent, North Las Vegas grew by 87.9 percent, and Sparks grew by 36.1 percent.[13]

Democrats controlled the Legislature, while the Governor at the time, Brian Sandoval, was a Republican. Hispanics and (to a lesser extent) Asians emerged as possible communities of interest that would merit their own districts. The Legislature failed to finish new maps, and a court-appointed panel of three 'special masters' took over. New maps were finalized on December 8, 2011, and no challenges were made.[14]

Salaries

As of 2013, members of the legislature are paid $146.29/day for a maximum of 60 days. Legislators inside the 50-mile Capitol area receive the federal rate for per diem while those outside the area receive the HUD single-room rate for each month of session for housing.[15]

The Nevada Constitution specifies that the 63 members of the state Legislature are to be paid for the first 60 days of each regular session, held every other year in odd-numbered years. The pay for the 21 Senators and 42 members of the Assembly is tied to pay increases provided to state employees.

History

Partisan balance 1992-2013

From 1992-2013, the Democratic Party was the majority in the Nevada State House of Representatives for the last 20 years while the Republicans were never the majority. The Nevada State House of Representatives is one of 18 state Houses that was Democratic for more than 80 percent of the years between 1992-2013.

Across the country, there were 577 Democratic and 483 Republican State Houses of Representatives from 1992 to 2013.

Over the course of the 22-year study, state governments became increasingly more partisan. At the outset of the study period (1992), 18 of the 49 states with partisan legislatures had single-party trifectas and 31 states had divided governments. In 2013, only 13 states have divided governments, while single-party trifectas held sway in 36 states, the most in the 22 years studied.